Needle magnetizer

Abstract

A device for accommodating and magnetizing a tissue-penetrating medical device of various lengths, with or without a cover covering a portion or the entirety of the tissue-penetrating medical device, is disclosed including a sleeve member having an open proximal end, a distal end, an inner surface, an outer surface having a graduated injection depth gauge to indicate needle penetration depth when the cover is placed into a magnetizer, and a hollow body extending between the proximal end and the distal end to form a protective closure over a shaft of a tissue-penetrating medical device. Also disclosed is a needle cover having a fixed distance between the tip of the needle and the tip of the needle cover. A device having one or more magnetizing elements sectioned into a plurality of movable segments pivoting around an axis to accommodate needles with different lengths is also disclosed. Also disclosed is a device having one or more magnetizing means mounted on a movable element to magnetize needles of various lengths.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A magnetizer for magnetizing a tissue-penetrating medical device comprising:
 a base segment having one or more magnets; 
 one or more movable segments, each of the one or more movable segments being embedded with one or more magnets, stacked in a vertical configuration on top of the base segment, the base segment and the one or more movable segments having a central cavity; and 
 a hinge having a vertical axis not in contact with the central cavity, the hinge connecting the one or more movable segments and the base segment. 
 
     
     
       2. The magnetizer of  claim 1 , wherein the central cavity permits movement of a tissue-penetrating medical device into the central cavity in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the tissue-penetrating medical device. 
     
     
       3. The magnetizer of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more magnets of the base segment have at least two or more magnets disposed on the base segment. 
     
     
       4. The magnetizer of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more magnets of each of the one or more movable segments have at least two or more magnets disposed on each of the one or more movable segments. 
     
     
       5. The magnetizer of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more magnets of the base segment are fixed permanent magnets. 
     
     
       6. The magnetizer of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more magnets of each of the one or more movable segments are fixed permanent magnets.